Kmart kidnapper: The two words child predator used to lure young girl from toy aisle revealed

Sterling Free faces court

July 17 2019

A Queensland man has pleaded guilty to taking a young girl from a Kmart for "immoral purposes, deprivation of liberty and indecent treatment".

Sterling Free took the seven-year-old from the Kmart at North Lakes in December last year, where she had been Christmas shopping with her mum.

It is revealed that the 26-year-old man said "follow me" to the little girl in order to lure her away from her mother.

It is believed he drove her about 30 minutes away to Pumicestone Passage, before sexually assaulting her and then returning her to the store around an hour and a half later, 7News reports.

 

At the time, Kmart staff spoke out about the incident. 

“It happened in one of the toy aisles just here where there were heaps of kids,” said one staff member. “You could hear the mother yelling out for her daughter… you never imagine something like this will happen.”

Free was arrested after being captured on CCTV footage taking the girl from the centre and bringing her back.

Daily Mail Australia also revealed that Free was known to child protection services in Queensland and has previously been investigated by police for alleged attacks involving children.

When he was arrested his partner also spoke out about the alleged attack.

Free will be sentenced in October.

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